VA/DC Scout Blog: Oakton at Centreville

May 12, 2023
John Nolan
NOVA Scouting Director

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Last Friday, Oakton and Centreville squared off in a late-season Concorde District matchup. Both teams started lefties on the bump in the game, Oakton going with senior Alex Crudder (Lynchburg) and Centreville starting freshman Michael Gambone.

Crudder had a tough first inning finding the strike zone, and the Wildcats were able to take advantage and take a 1-0 lead. Gambone worked around trouble in the first, with an Oakton runner getting thrown out at home plate. After the first, Crudder was dominant in the second and third and tough again in the fourth. The game was still 1-0 after four as Gambone and Crudder dueled.

In the top of the bottom of the fifth, Centreville was able to chase Crudder from the game and pick up an insurance run, opening the lead up to 2-0. The Wildcats blew the game open in the sixth, scoring four runs to push the score to 6-0. Gambone was able to finish his shutout in the seventh, handing Centreville the 6-0 win. The freshman had 2 hits and 2 RBI at the plate while also spinning a complete game 4-hit shutout on the mound.

Oakton

Alex Crudder LHP / 1B / Oakton, VA / 2023

2023 LHP Alex Crudder @alex_cdd_31 (@OHSCougarsBSB)

.@LynchburgBaseBl commit works from low three-quarters slot, short quick arm action with some effort. Getting swing and misses down in the zone

FB 81-83, T84
SL 72-73
CH 78#PBRIsThere @PBRVirginiaDC pic.twitter.com/3tzn4RJPhq
— John Nolan (@PBRVADC_Nolan) May 5, 2023

Alex Rose C / RHP / Oakton, VA / 2025

2025 OF/C Alex Rose (@OHSCougarsBSB)

Athletic frame, short line drive swing, on the barrel for a single to CF. Runner cut down at plate to end inning #PBRIsThere @PBRVirginiaDC pic.twitter.com/4qtHJLN3Zx
— John Nolan (@PBRVADC_Nolan) May 5, 2023

Noah Toole SS / RHP / Oakton , VA / 2024

2024 SS/RHP Noah Toole (@OHSCougarsBSB)

Lankier athletic frame, multi sport athlete, pretty good at short, arm above average, hands and athleticism play. Loose quick arm action from a low 3/4 slot

FB 85-86, T87
CB 70-72
CH 74#PBRIsThere @PBRVirginiaDC pic.twitter.com/2XWG9Ds8FQ
— John Nolan (@PBRVADC_Nolan) May 6, 2023

Centreville

Michael Gambone OF / LHP / Centreville, VA / 2026

Gambone has an athletic frame with some strength present already in his lower half. He hits from the lift side from an athletic slightly open stance. Short simple swing, keeps hands in. Some extension through contact, slightly uphill path. Line drive hitter now with chance to develop some extra base power. Comfortable in the box and showed a lot of poise. Patient approach, showed a knack for getting bat on ball. Two hits in the game, the first one is in his last at-bat of the night. The second one was a 2-strike pitch up and in, did a good job of getting bat on ball and fighting it into outfield for an RBI.

On the mound, its a controlled deliberate delivery, drop and drive to it with classic lefty closed-shoulder crossfire look as he strides out. Long on the backside arm action and throws from a tick below true three-quarters for his slot, normal effort to his delivery. Fastball was 77-80, a lot of 80 early in the game. Gives up a notch in his slide step, more 76-77 there. Gets a bit of late run and sink to it for some late two-plane movement. Curveball was 66-68 with gradual 1/7 break to it. Break sharpened a bit when he buried it down. Pitch has a chance to develop, and he uses it well now. Also mixed in a few change-ups in the 69-70 range. Again, showed a ton of poise, especially with runners on. In control of himself when on the mound, the moment never got to big, showed feel for controlling the running game, carried himself like an experienced upperclassmen, not a freshman.